Toasty USB2 HDD Enclosure - Adding Fan to it.

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Solomage, May 27, 2006.

  1. Solomage

    Solomage Private E-2

    I have a USB2 HDD Enclosure, I've had it for a while and it doesn't have a fan built in, I have taken off the "aluminium look" cover which revealed a plastic chassis underneath. This seems to have slightly relieved the temperature of the drive that I have in there, however I would still describe it as being "too hot" to touch.

    I would like to install a case fan to blow onto the drive to cool it down as I have just bought a Linksys NLSU2 Storage link, and so would like something reliable that I can use with it, hopefully without buying another enclosure.

    My question is this, should I mount the fan on the top or underneath the drive, would it be better blowing onto the drive, or "sucking" the heat off it (would that work??)

    what is the best way to do this, and are there any guides that I could look at that may help?

    I would really appreciate any help that you could provide.

    Thank you in advance.
     
  2. Solomage

    Solomage Private E-2

    Well I don't know if this is the best way to do it, but I have attached the fan to the enclosure with 4 zip ties so it now blows down onto the top of the drive, I assume this is fine cos my 250GB DiamondMax plus 10 is now cold to the touch (Never had a drive that cool!) - and thats after right in the middle of a few hours of intensive disk activity! - I'll post a picture of it on here just in case anyone else has a similar issue, maybe it may help someone.
     
  3. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Sounds like you cracked the cooling issue with this USB HD, yes do post a pic of what you did as 1 picture = 1000 words.
     
  4. Solomage

    Solomage Private E-2

    Here's the Pictures. The Enclosure is a "Mentor ME350UCII" with my Linksys NSLU2
     

    Attached Files:

  5. khios

    khios Private E-2

    Ok I know this is a WAY old thread BUT..

    As anyone still got on of these. Trying to convert one to use a CD-Rom rather than HDD. going to recase it etc etc since 5 1/4 enclosures are damn expensice where I live (like about $100 ish) problem is I have lost the power supply. Does anyone have one about that they can give me the info from the power adapter. I need the VDC and the amp. The power adapter I have atm is 11VDC out @ 1 amp however when i plug in a HDD its not spinning up. I am assuming that enough power is not getting through however windoze is detecting the Storage device.

    Thanks in advance

    Rob
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2009
  6. Solomage

    Solomage Private E-2

    Hi Khios - I'm pretty sure that enclosure gave up the ghost. I do have a replacement that I'd be happy to give you the specs on.

    Have you checked the voltages at the molex connector in the enclosure with a multimeter to see what you're getting?

    Regards.
     
  7. khios

    khios Private E-2

    Yeah I have but there is nothing on there neither on the under of the PCB. I assume that it will be a 12 VDC its the amps I am not to sure about. The father inlaw had a 11VDC 1amp he was using but it would not power the HDD up and CDroms would not detect.. Windows just spat out a error about USB device blah blah blah. I found another power pack today 12VDC 500MA the PC detects a CD burner BUT when i insert a CD it wont read properly and HDD's sound like its not spinning up .. its trying but not quite. I THINK its going to be 1amp or more BUT i dont want to go up to much else something will blow. I assume is 12VDC since thats whats HDD and CDroms use.. 5V ground and 12VDC. I guess the best bet will be to see how many amps PC power supplys put out to a HDD or CD-ROM.

    As I think i said i priced a external CD-ROM from a local PC store and they are like $140+ and 5 1/4 Enclosures are like $80+ and for something I would use only now and then I cant Justify it =)

    I was hoping someone would have a power pack kicking around somewhere so that they could tell me whats written on it.

    Thanks heaps for your reply however :)

    Actually can ya give me the details on the power pack that ya have. I would assume most of them would be the same :)
     
  8. Beniton

    Beniton Private E-2

    Hi,
    I need a driver for this Enclosure.
    You can send me driver, please?:)
     

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